“My family isn’t perfect”

Jamie admitted that keeping kids focused on the (delicious) task at hand often proved near impossible, too.

“My family isn’t perfect… it’s like warfare,” he said, revealing that concessions were made very often, to keep the peace. (Sound familiar?!)

“We’ve struggled with the ‘no electronics at the table’ rule for older kids yes, and for Petal she is edging towards being a little bit of spoilt brat – everyone wants to placate here the louder she screams and I have to admit that sometimes to have some peace while we eat she will get to watch Fireman Sam on the TV.”

Parents reading Jamie’s comments will be intimately familiar the appetite suppressing power of a very cross toddler or upturned bowl of soup. Sometimes “flexibility” in the name of peace is the only way to ensure everyone gets something in their tummies and a modicum of sanity is maintained when the whole gang sits down to eat.

Is meal time chaos at your place? Can you relate to life at Chez Oliver?